Construction of display screens and the like



L. H. IVIAcO RQUODALE. CONSTRUCTION OF DISPLAY SCREENS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 30.71MB.

1,%32,4I% Patented 0012. 17, 1922,,

2 SHEETS-SHEEI I. I

L. H. MACORQUODALE- CONSTRUCTION OF DlSPLAY SCREENS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED on. 30, 1918.

JLALSQAUQL. I Patented 0st. 17, 1922.

Patented @ct l7, llQZZ.

LORNE HUGH MAQORQUODALE, 0F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, -ASSIG1\TOR TO FORBES o m it 1W? t ar were in...

LITI-IOGRAPH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR- PORATION or MASSACHUSETTS.

cons'rnnc'rron on nrsrLAY sc'nnnns AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 30, 1518.

T a all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, LORNE H. MAoOnono- DALE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in the Construction of Display Screens and the like, of whichthe following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to structures which are built up from sheets, such as cardboard sheets, which usually are relatively sti-if although somewhat yielding. My invention contemplates a structure of this character embodying an improvedfor'm of joint between sheets which may, if desired, serve as a hinge. As an example of the type of structure referred to, I may mention the s'o-called display screens designed to display advertisingi matter and consisting of a number of sheets hinged together and adapted to be placed in angular relation so that the whole will stand on end. Such structures are usually in the form of a triptych. As Ibelieve that a maj or field of application of the principles of my invention will be found in the construction of display screens, I have chosen such an article as an example for purposes of descrlption herein and have illustrated one in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a front view of a triptych display stand embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a back view'of the adjoining edges of one of the back sheets and one of the side sheets;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail with the parts separated; and

Fig. 1 is an end view of the display screen folded for carriage.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have there shown a display screen comprising a back she'et5 to the sides of which are hinged side pieces 7,-the' whole adapted to stand up inthe manner indicated in'the figure. It will be understood thatsuitable advertising matter, usually an attractive picture, will ordinarily be placed upon the faces of the sheets;

It has hitherto been customary to con nect the elements ofthe display screen by a hinged joint provided by an adhesive tape applied to the meeting edges of the sheets,

Serial No; 260,239.

and the joint thus provided has sometimes been reinforced by driven fastenings. For the larger and heavler screens such joints have not proved sufficiently strong or durathe slots and belocked therein, providing a joint which will permit hinging action be cause of the springy yielding of the millboarder other material of which the screen is made. The screen may thus be folded into the form shown in Fig. 4 and one piled upon the other for shipment or storage. The slots (see Fig. 3) maybe stamped from the sheet 5 when it is cut as may likewise the projecting tabs, this facilitating the manufacture of the screen. I believe that I am the first to devise a display screen or like foldable and unfoldable structure comprising a plurality of serially connected sheets wherein the sheets are hingedly connected by means of a slot and tongue construction.

In the form of the invention herein disclosed the joint betweenthe sheets 5 and 7 is formed by two headed tabs 13 adjacent the top and bottom sides of the sheet 7 and an intermediate plain tab 15. The headed tabs 13 are adapted to be locked in slots 9, preferably of the particular construction hereinafter described, by inserting them therein and then eifecting a longitudinal movement of the sheet along the line of junction of the two sheets so that an end of the slot wlll engage the neck 17 which defines the head 19 of the tab 13 and lock behindthe shoulder of the latter. Conveniently the tab 15 is a plain unhea'ded tab and the slot 11 is adapted to lit the same and is positioned to The screen may thus be assembled by insertmg the tabs 13'and springing the sheet 5 to cause the middle portion thereofto belly receive it when the headed tabs are locked in I their slots after the longitudinal movement.

outwardly, thus accommodating the tab 15 inthe concavity thus formed. The" headed tabs 13 are then looked in their slots 9 by a longitudinal movement which will bring the tab 15 in line with its slot 11. The sheet 5 is then allowed to spring back so that the tab 15 will enter the slot 11 and thus the whole structure is locked against longitudinal movement. The sheets cannot be disengaged until the sheet is first sprung to release the tab 11, after which the tabs 13 may be manipulated to unlock them from thelr slots.

" ,Herein (see Fig. 8) I have shown the slot '9-as embodying a straight portion 21 in line with the slot 11 and of a length substantially equal to the neck 17 of the tab 13 to lit the same and lock the head 19 of the tab. Opening fromthe straight portion 21 adjacent; one end thereof is an extension 23 oblique, to the portion 21. The

extension may either be straight, as shown,

' words, it should be at least as long as the distance from one side of the neckto the opposite side of the head, in which case the tab could be passed therethrough by a button-holding action if it had opposed shouldersas herein illustrated; but it is preferably ofa length corresponding to the greatest dimension of the tab.

To insert the tab 13 in the slot 9, the sheet ,7 is somewhat sprung so that the tab itself will assume a more or less bent'form.

corresponding to the form of the slot 9 embodying the portions 21 and 23. It may then be inserted through the slot and slid. downwardlyv until the lower side of the neck 17 engages the bottom. of the portion 21. As this portion 21 corresponds in length to the width of the neck 17 the upper por tion of the neck will then have moved free of the deflected extension 23 of the slot and the sheet 7 will snap over, lodging the upper part, of the neck beneath the shoulder 25 and, in the present instance, the upwardly extending shoulder of the head 19 behind the sheet above that shoulder.

3 To release the; joint thus formed, the sheet 7 must be sprung to release the neckfrom the shoulder 25 defined by the notch projecting from the convex side of the bent slot formed by the portions 21 and 28 and then slid longitudinally to release lJlIQ'lOWBI' shoulder of the head and permit the tab to be withdrawn. v I

Preferably, as already described, a joint is formed by at least/two tongueand slot joints such as have just been described and which are illustrated in Fig. 3 in cooperation with a'slotll' and plain corresponding tongue 15. In such a construction, as-shown in Fig. 2, the oblique extensions 28 preferably extend in the same direction while the portions 21 of the. slots are preferably straight and align with each other and with the slot 11.

A construction of this kind has been found easy to assemble but when-made of fairly heavy materials it practically] re- 1 quires the efiort of two persons to disassembleit. The joint-is strong in all directions since the tabs 13 are preferably pro.-

vided with heads 19 having. shoulders on each side and locking at each end of the straight portions2lo their slots, and the foldingof the screen to the form. shown in Fig. 4 does not cause any substantial dis rupting strain,

,. Having thus described theillustrative em bodiment of my invention as shown in the accompanying drawlngs, the principles-ex emplified thereby whichI consider newand desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. shall define in the followingclaims: A display screen-orlike article ,comprising a pairof relatively flexible sheets,

one sheet having a headed tab and a plain tab and the otherhaving a slot-to receive the headed tab and a'slot to receivel the plain tab when ,a shoulder of the head-0f the headed tab is locked by, an end of the slot.

A display screen or like articlecom- I prising a pair of relatively flexible sheets, one sheet having a pair of headed tabs at one end adjacent thesides thereof anda plaintab between them and the other havling slots to receive said headed tabs and look behind the heads thereof and a slot 7 positionedto receive the plain tab when the headed tabs have been locked.

V 3. A display screen or the like compris ing a pair of relatively flexible'sheets, connecting means adjacent opposed sides thereof adapted to interlock by longitudinal movement in the direction oftheline of junction and cooperating male and female parts on the sheets arrangedv for engagement after such movement and adapted to be separated by springing of one of the sheets.

4. A triptych display screen comprising folded together or to stand on edge and mutually support one another when the sheets are unfolded and in this'position to display matter on their faces, one sheethav- I ,thre e relatively stiff sheets adapted to be ing vertically aligned slots along itssides and others having tabs. projecting from edges thereof fitting in and locked against withdrawal from said slots.

j 5. In a joint construction one element having a headed tab and a plain tabQa second element having a slot of a size to receive the neck and look behind the head of said headed tab and an offset extension opening from said siot providing in cooperation therewith an auxiliary slot of a size to pass the head, said element also having a s 0t positioned to receive said other tab when the headed tab is locked'in its slot, and thereby to hold the head engaged.

6. In a joint construction one element having a pair of headed tabs and an intermediate plain tab, a second element having slots positioned to receive the headed tabs element also having a slot to receive said other tab when the headed tabs are locked in their slots, and thereby to hold the heads engaged.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

LORNE HUGH MAOORQUODALE. 

